9 Ways You're Harming Your Teeth And Don't Know About It

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Ways You're Harming Your Teeth

Biting nails and drinking citrus fruit juices may damage the tooth enamel. Using your teeth to open something and having tongue piercings can result in a chipped tooth. Biting into ice cubes, chewing on pencils, and grinding your teeth can cause teeth to fracture and can damage the enamel. Brushing too hard can cause sensitive teeth. Dehydration makes teeth more prone to cavities.

Are you chewing on your pencil because you are bored in class or cannot stand that boring presentation at work? Do you find it easier to use your teeth to open a bottle because the bottle opener is too far? If you’re doing either of these, then you should also know that you are causing some damage to your teeth.

Oral health is important to keep your teeth healthy, but equally important are your habits, too. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you are causing damage to your teeth which you may not be aware of.

Ways You Are Harming Your Teeth And Don’t Know About It

You brush your teeth twice a day because the foods you eat can cause cavities and other gum-related issues if you don’t. But, if you don’t brush the right way, you could be doing your teeth more harm than good. Let’s take a look at a few ways you are unconsciously harming your teeth.

1. Biting Your Nails

Some people bite their nails when they are nervous, while other bite them because they are too lazy to use a nail clipper to trim them. Biting nails with your teeth may seem like an easy way to get them short, but what you don’t realize is that you may be harming your teeth in the process. Not only is biting nails unhygienic, it also causes a great deal of damage to the tooth enamel. Sometimes, repeatedly biting your nails may also cause your teeth to move out of place.

2. Using Your Teeth As A Tool

It is easier to open a packet of chips with your teeth than walk to the next room and get a pair of scissors. But, what you don’t know is that it could cause your teeth to chip or it may even cause cracks in the process. You can prevent this from happening by using the right tools like a pair of scissors. Would you rather have a chipped tooth all your life or would you rather use the right tool to open packages?

3. Biting Into Ice Cubes

Ice cubes are cold and hard. Biting into them can cause your teeth to fracture. This can cause damage to your enamel – the protective outer covering of your teeth. Damage to your enamel can cause more problems in the future.

You can avoid this habit by choosing cold water instead of ice cubes. You can also order for your drinks without ice if you are finding it difficult to quit the habit of biting ice.

4. Brushing Too Hard

It is important to brush your teeth twice a day to fight cavities and bad breath. But, it is equally important to brush them the right way. You may think that the harder you brush the whiter your teeth will be, but this is not true. It may cause damage to your enamel, irritate gums, and make your teeth sensitive.

Brush your teeth twice a day using a soft bristled toothbrush gently in a circular motion.

5. Chewing On Pencils

It is a common habit for most school children to chew on their pencils and pens during a boring class. This habit may continue even when they’re older. This can cause the teeth to move out of place and can also cause fractures in the teeth on a microscopic level.

So, if you find your child or a friend chewing on anything else other than food, stop them immediately.

6. Grinding Your Teeth

Some people clench or grind their teeth out of anger and some people do that while lifting a heavy object. Clenching or grinding your teeth can also cause damage to them. There is a certain pressure applied to the teeth and this can cause fractures which may result in further problems in the long run. Try to avoid this habit.

If you grind or clench your teeth during sleep due to stress, consider using a mouth guard while sleeping so that your teeth are not under any physical pressure.

7. Drinking Citrus Fruit Juices

We all know that fruits are essential for the body and citrus fruits are healthy because of the abundance of the vitamin C. Although these fruits are healthy, the fruits and their juices may be causing damage to the teeth. This is because citrus fruits are highly acidic and can erode the tooth enamel. They are also high in natural sugars and can make your teeth prone to cavities.

This is also true with soft drinks, wine, energy drinks, and even sugar-free fizzy drinks.

8. Ignoring Your Daily Water Intake

If you’re not drinking enough water during the day, then you are causing your body to be dehydrated. Dehydration can cause a decrease in the production of saliva in the mouth, leading to dryness. Saliva in the mouth is important because it is responsible for dissolving the acids found in the food and drink. Therefore, less water means less saliva and less saliva means more risk of cavities.

So, always remember to drink at least eight glasses of water every day to prevent damage to your teeth.

9. Having Tongue Piercings

Tongue piercings may be trendy but they also come with a price. They can cause a lot of damage to your teeth and gums and you may not notice unless it becomes a severe issue. Piercings are made of metal and they may cause your teeth to chip or break. It may also add to the bacteria building in the mouth, which can cause bad breath and other health conditions. Sometimes, piercings can also become infected and cause dental problems. The only solution to this is to avoid them completely to avoid any damage to your teeth and gums.

Disclaimer: The content is purely informative and educational in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. Please use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified medical or healthcare professional.